Pinckney takes first at SkillsUSA robotics competition

Pinckney Community High School students Mitchell LeVasseur and Patrick Westerberg placed first in the nation at the annual SkillsUSA Robotics and Automation contest.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Pinckney Community High School robotics program)

Pinckney Community High School students Mitchell LeVasseur and Patrick Westerberg placed first in the nation at the annual SkillsUSA Robotics and Automation contest.

“I am very proud at how far the students got,” said Sean Hickman, Pinckney robotics coach. “The team completed the entire task with zero errors and had the best cycle time.”

There were approximately 30 states that attended the national competition last week in Louisville, Kentucky.

The team was given a variety of industrial equipment — such as a robot arm and controller, conveying system, electro-pneumatic stamp, and safety devices — and had to design, configure, wire and program the system to perform manufacturing simulation.

“This was their chance to really shine and show the world what Pinckney is all about, and they did just that,” Hickman said.

Pinckney previously took first place in two contests at the state level of the SkillsUSA competition.

The students participated in automotive electrical systems, mechatronics, robotics and automation contests.

SkillsUSA is different than other robotics competitions because instead of working on building a robot for several weeks to compete against other statewide teams, students must demonstrate their skill set by performing on the spot at the competition.

It works the same way at each competition level.

“They are given prints and must compete them while at the competition (depending on the contest they enter),” Hickman said. “They don’t have mentors or instructors helping them along the way. They must showcase their skills by themselves.”

The contest was directed and judged by robotics professionals from across the nation.

Hickman said the competition at the national level was “very competency based.”

“It was Patrick and Mitchell against the best in the country,” he said.

Even though Hickman helps students familiarize themselves with the equipment, the students are on their own once the competition day arrives.

“That’s the best part: watching the students excel at what they’ve been working so hard for all year,” Hickman said. “Employers were there scouting out the talent. … Nissan Corp. was there and offered the team a job on the spot.”

However, both LeVasseur and Westerberg are headed off to college next year to pursue engineering degrees.

“Mitchell is going to Lake Superior State University and Patrick plans to attend Michigan Tech,” Hickman said.